MS Delft Seaways

Delft Seaways in previous livery
Career
Name:	2006-2010: Maersk Delft 2010 onwards: Delft Seaways
Operator:	2006-2010: Norfolkline 2010 onwards: DFDS Seaways
Port of registry:	Dover,  United Kingdom
Builder:	Samsung Heavy Industries, South Korea
Yard number:	1524
Laid down:	12 March 2003
Completed:	2005
Maiden voyage:	27 February 2006
Identification:	Callsign MJYC9 IMO number: 9293088
Status:	in service
General characteristics
Class and type:	LR - Roll on Roll off Cargo Passenger Ship
Tonnage:	35,293 gross register tons (GRT)
Length:	186.65 m (612.4 ft)
Beam:	28.40 m (93.2 ft)
Draught:	6.75 m (22.1 ft)
Decks:	9
Propulsion:	4 x MAN B&W 8L48/60B Diesel
Speed:	25 kn (46.3 km/h)

Delft Seaways is a ro-pax ferry owned an operated by DFDS Seaways. She is the one of three sister vessels designed for the cross-Channel Dover - Dunkerque route, capable of making the crossing in 1 hour and 45 minutes. The Maersk Delft is a Scandinavian designed vessel built at the Samsung shipyards in South Korea in 2005.^[1] She sails under the flag of the United Kingdom and her port of registry is Dover

History

The ship was delivered in 2006 and made her maiden voyage on 27 February 2006, replacing Northern Merchant which previously operated the route. She had an encounter with armed speedboats in the Gulf of Aden during the delivery voyage from Korea.^[2]

The Maersk Delft suffered a loss of power whilst returning to Dover following a refit at Scheldeport Dockyard, Vlissingen on 29 January 2007. The fault was blamed on a computer error, but the vessel had to be towed into Dover harbour from outside the eastern entrance where she had anchored.^[3]

In July 2010 Norfolkline was acquired by DFDS. The Norfolkline vessels and routes are to be re-branded as DFDS Seaways.

Features

Deck plan onboard Maersk Delft

The Maersk Delft, like her sister ships,has been designed with separate roll-on roll-off decks for freight and cars, which greatly reduces the loading and unloading times.^{[citation needed]} Passenger facilities are spread out over two decks and include three restaurants, a bar, shop, cinema, children's play area, games arcade and a Bureau de Change. There are seven lifts for carrying passengers, crew and stores from the lower car and freight decks up to the passenger and crew decks. The crew accommodation is located on a separate deck and includes cabins, a dayroom, offices, laundry, stores and crew mess.

An outstanding feature on board are the large panoramic windows at the front and the side with their uninterrupted sea views. The Delft has a top speed of 25 kts and has the capacity to carry 200 cars and 780 passengers.

The ship has 132 paintings and prints made by artist Anne Vilsbøll. The paintings show movements in water, on water and by water.^[4]

Sister ships

The Delft Seaways has two sister ships operating on the same service: Dunkerque Seaways and edit] References

1. ^ "Norfolkline freight ferry fleet - Maersk Delft". http://www.norfolklinefreight.com/FF/Freight_ferry_fleet/Maersk_Delft/. Retrieved 22 April 2009. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ "CROSS-CHANNEL FERRY IN CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH PIRATE BOATS". NUMAST Telegraph. March 2006. http://www.nautilusuk.org/docimages/554.pdf. Retrieved 22 April 2009. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ "Mv Maersk Delft". http://doverferryphotos.co.uk/Vessel/maerskdelft.htm. Retrieved 22 April 2009. 
4. ^ "Maersk Delft Commission 2005 - 2006". http://www.annevilsboll.com/space/maersk.html. Retrieved 22 April 2009. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• M/F Maersk Dunkerque
• Norfolkline
• Dover Harbour Board
• Dunkerque